Federal prosecutors have opened a criminal investigation into Fed Chair Jerome Powell over cost overruns at the central bank’s headquarters, a move Powell called an “unprecedented” threat to the Fed’s independence. The shock headlines sparked a risk-off ripple with futures and the dollar wobbling and haven flows building, injecting fresh policy and market uncertainty just as investors handicap the 2026 rate path.
Source: MarketWatch
IG credit roars back: $95B corporate bond blitz is busiest week since the pandemic
U.S. investment-grade companies sold roughly $95 billion of bonds in a single week, the most active stretch since 2020. The rush underscores robust demand for high-quality paper and CFOs’ urgency to term out funding as policy and election uncertainty loom over 2026.
Source: Seeking Alpha
Google’s Gemini muscles into retail: Walmart, Wayfair, Shopify sign on
Google expanded its Gemini-powered shopping and agentic AI tools through partnerships with Walmart, Wayfair and Shopify, accelerating the collision of search, ads and checkout. For retailers, the move promises higher conversion and more measurable intent; for platforms, it raises the stakes in the AI-commerce land grab.
Source: Seeking Alpha
Apple, Samsung resist India’s demand for smartphone source code access
Apple and Samsung are pushing back against India’s proposal to require access to smartphone source code, citing security, IP protection and global compliance risks. The standoff highlights growing regulatory balkanization for Big Tech and potential ramifications for supply chains and product road maps in a key growth market.
Source: Seeking Alpha
Budget-airline shakeup: Allegiant to buy Sun Country for about $1.5B
Allegiant and Sun Country will merge in a cash-and-stock deal valued around $1.5 billion, continuing consolidation among ultra-low-cost carriers. Investors will watch for network synergies, fleet harmonization, and antitrust scrutiny as the combined airline targets leisure routes and ancillary revenue growth.
Source: MarketWatch
Tennessee orders Kalshi, Polymarket, Crypto.com to halt sports event contracts
Tennessee’s Sports Wagering Council issued cease-and-desist letters to Kalshi, Polymarket and Crypto.com, calling their sports-related “event contracts” unlicensed betting and ordering refunds to state users by Jan. 31. The action intensifies the federal–state clash over prediction markets and could force wider geofencing and product redesigns across the industry.
Source: Finance Magnates
South Korea lifts nine-year ban on corporate crypto investments, with guardrails
Seoul finalized rules allowing listed companies and professional institutions to hold crypto assets, capping exposure at 5% of net equity and limiting holdings to the top 20 coins on regulated exchanges. The shift could unlock billions in institutional capital, spur domestic custody buildout, and mark a step toward a more institutionalized Korean digital asset market.
Source: FinanceFeeds
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